IS AMERICA GETTING IT'S MONEY'S WORTH? [+] ballot by cranky ACTIVE Mon May 01, 06 - Sat Jan 24, 09 Is America getting it's money's worth from the war in Iraq? US war costs 'could hit $811bn' The cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has soared and may now reach $811bn (£445bn), says a report by the Congressional Research Service. It estimates that Congress has appropriated $368bn for the global war on terror, including both conflicts. It says that if the current spending bill is approved, US war costs will reach $439bn, and it estimates that an extra $371bn may be needed by 2016. On that basis, the two wars would cost more than the $579bn spent in Vietnam. The CRS estimates that the US Department of Defense's annual war funding has risen from $73bn in 2004 to $120bn in 2006, with an increase of 17% this year alone. The cost of the war in Iraq has been increasing since US troops have become bogged down in the conflict. The CRS says the real cost of the conflict in Iraq has risen to $8bn monthly, nearly double the cost in 2003. And it says that the Defense Department has also minimised the cost of the war by not including other costs, including intelligence and the training of Iraqi and Afghan security forces, in its estimates. The estimates do not include the costs of reconstruction, which the US originally estimated at $56bn. A recent report from the General Accounting Office suggested these costs would be much higher, but also said much of the money disbursed so far had been spent on security, not rebuilding. (BBC) Yes, it's such a good deal we should invade Iran now No Ballot #93491 : SEE RESULTS Comment: show your vote with comment?

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